Major General YK Gera (Retd) - Consultant and Head (Research)

Major General YK Gera is a telecommunication Engineer. He is a graduate from the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and has done the Long Defence Management Course from the College of Defence Management, Secunderabad and the National security Management course from the National Defence University, Washington (USA). He is an alumnus of the National Defence College, New Delhi.

He served as the Deputy Director and Editor of the USI for more than a decade. His duties also involved overseeing research project studies by research scholars. He is working as Consultant (Research) at the USI.

He has authored book titled "Non Conventional Threat Perceptions in the Indian Context", and edited the books "Peace and Stability in Afghanistan : The Way Ahead" and "Peace and Stability in Asia-Pacific Region : Assessment of the Security Architecture". He has also co-edited the book "Comprehensive National Power". He has travelled widely.

Maj Gen BK Sharma, AVSM, SM** (Retd)

Maj Gen BK Sharma, AVSM, SM** (Retd) is a Distinguished Fellow at the USI. He is PSC, HC, NDC, MPhil (Twice), PGDM and is pursuing PhD in Geopolitics in Central Asia. His prestigious Command and Staff assignments include, Senior Faculty Member at NDC, New Delhi, Command of a Mountain Division, BGS of a Corps, Principal Director Net Assessment, Defence Attaché in Central Asia and UN Military Observer in Central America.

Maj Gen P K Goswami, VSM (Retd)

Major General P K Goswami, VSM was commissioned into Regiment of Artillery (Air Defence Branch) on 11 June 1977 and commanded Air Defence Missile Regiment (SP) from 1998 to 2001.

The Officer was deputed as Military Observer with United Nations Verification Mission at Angola. He is an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Higher Command Course and National Defence College. Officer visited 25 foreign countries in various capacities. Officer represented National Defence College, India at 16TH ASEAN Regional Forum for Heads of Defence Universities, Colleges and Institutions at Beijing, China in Nov 2012 and presented paper on "Education on National Security Strategy in a Changing World".

Professor Nirmala Joshi - Research Advisor

She is a former Head of the Department Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies at School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She has been Director, India-Central Asia Foundation, New Delhi and has done various assignments related to Russia and Central Asian studies. She has edited scores of books on India and Central Asia.

Brig AS Cheema – Senior Research Fellow

Commissioned in Armoured Corps, Brig AS Cheema obtained his MSc and M Phil from the Chennai University in 'Defence and Strategic Studies'. His fellowship on the 'Historical Account of the Sixty Years of the Kashmir Conflict', carried out under the aegis of The USI is presently under publication. Having joined the USI in Mar 2012, as Senior Fellow, he is currently coordinating the ongoing research on the China specific Studies at the USI.

Col Rajeev Chauhan – Senior Research Fellow

Commissioned in Army Ordnance Corps on 14 June 1986, Col Rajiv Chauhan has done diploma in Systems Analysis and Data Processing and he is also a diploma holder in Management. He is doing research Project on "Analysis of Logistics Support Chain Management of the Indian Army and the PLA".

Col Nagender SP Bisht – Senior Research Fellow

He was commissioned in 1990 in JAK RIF and has served in various sectors including Jammu and Kashmir, Counter Insurgency and high altitude areas including command of a Rashtriya Rifles Battalion in Jammu and Kashmir. A graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, he has a post graduate degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from the Madras University and at present he is doing research project on "PLA Modernisation and likely Force Structure by 2025".

Lt Col Harish Katoch - Research Fellow

Lt Col Harish Katoch is a serving Armoured Corps Officer. Presently he is carrying out research on the subject "Enhancing Efficiency in the Organisation by TA-isation".

He served in Sri Lanka as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF). Later he served with the Special Frontier Force in High Altitude Areas.

Research Project Subject: "Territorial Army : Future Challenges"

Lt Col Vivek Dhall - Research Fellow

He is a serving Army officer who is currently a research fellow at the USI-CS3. He was commissioned in 1988 in GARHWAL RIFLES and has served in various sectors including Jammu and Kashmir; Counter Insurgency and high altitude areas. He is doing research project on "India's Energy Security".

Research Project Subject: "India's Energy Security"

Captain Sandeep Dewan - Senior Research Fellow

His fields of interest are Maritime aspects of Indo China relations, The Tibet dispute and matters maritime.

He was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jan 1987 and thereafter served onboard various classes of Indian Naval Ships as a non specialist and thereafter a specialist Navigation and Direction Officer. He has served as the Flotilla Operations Officer on the staff of the Naval Officer-in-Charge, Andhra Pradesh and as the Command Operations Officer of the Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy. He has also done an instructional tenure at the National Defence Academy and served as a directing staff at the Defence Services Staff College for four years. A graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington he has a Master of Philosophy and a post graduate degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from the Madras University.

Group Captain Sharad Tewari, VM (Retd)

Gp Capt Sharad Tewari, VM (Retd) is a Senior Research Fellow at the USI. He is a qualified flying instructor with over 5000 hours of flying to his credit. He is an alumnus of FIS, DSSC and HDMC. He has been a former Director Net Assessment at HQ IDS covering Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia Region. He specialises in Net Assessment and Scenario Building.

Group Captain AK Agarwal - Senior Research Fellow

He is a serving officer in the IAF and is presently a Senior Research Fellow at the USI – CS3. The officer was commissioned on the 04 Jun 82 as a pilot in the fighter stream. He has over 2400 hours of flying. The officer has served in various field and staff appointments. He is a graduate from the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and has undergone the Higher Defence Management Course at CDM.

Research Project Subject: "Application of Air Power in Combating Maoist Insurgency"

Group Captain (Dr.) RK Singh - Senior Research Fellow

He is a serving Air Force Officer, who is currently with the USI of India pursuing Research Fellowship on "Military Applications of Space". He graduated in Science in 1983 and did his Post Graduation in "Defence and Strategic Studies" (Gold Medalist) in 2002 from Allahabad University. He has done his PhD. He has undergone courses on different aspects of Disaster Management from Air Force Institute of NBC Protection, National Institute of Disaster Management New Delhi, National Civil Defence College Nagpur, World Bank Institute and IGNOU.

Research Project Subject: "Military Applications of Space"

Dr (Mrs) Roshan Khaniejo - Research Fellow

Dr Roshan Khaniejo has done her PhD on "NPT and Developing Countries – A Critical Appraisal". Presently, she is Associate Research Fellow at the USI-CS3.

Research Project Subject: "Complexities and Challenges of Nuclear India"

Lt Gen KK Khanna, PVSM, AVSM and Bar (Retd)

He commanded 16 JAT, the Battalion in which he was commissioned, in June 1967. In 1994 he raised and commanded 10 Sector RR at Baramula, J&K. Later he commanded an Infantry Division (RAPID) part of a strike corps. He has been Colonel of the JAT Regiment.

He has attended the Higher Command course at Mhow and the NDC course at Delhi.

He has been BGS of a Strike Corps, and MGGS of Northern Command, before being appointed Chief of Staff Northern Command. He is a keen student of Military History.

Dr Prabhakaran Paleri

He is a former Indian Navy officer and joined Coast Guard in 1981. He served as the 16th Director General of Indian Coast Guard. He is a Fellow of Narotham Morarji Institute of Shipping, Mumbai. He is also a graduate from the National Defense University, Washington DC, with master's degree in National Security Strategy and obtained multi-disciplinary doctorate from the University of Madras in Business Administration and Defence Studies. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame of international fellows at the National Defense University, Washington, D.C. in 2009.

Research Project Subject: "Integrated Maritime Security"

Shri RS Kalha, IFS (Retd)

Joined IFS in 1965 and served in Indian Embassies at Hong Kong, Beijing and Tokyo. He has been Financial Advisor for Western Europe/Minister at High Commission, UK [London], Ambassador to Indonesia/ASEAN headquarters, Jakarta and Ambassador to Iraq. He has authored book on Iraq entitled, 'The Ultimate Prize-Saddam and Oil' and has contributed articles to several national Dailies.

Research Project Subject: "Dynamics of Preventive Diplomacy"